J PnX-LLOOACTUS, 1 61 



■and when in flower it has a remarkable appearance. The flowers seem to 

 share the large dimensions of the plant, for they are 7 to 8 inches long and 

 ahout 6 inches in diameter, the petals of a delicate clear creamy white, the 

 sepals and tube of a reddish hue. It is a native of Hesico and some districts 

 to the south of that country, and has been in oultivatiou for a considerable 

 time, though the date of its introduction is uncertain. 



P. PHTLLANTHT7S, Soto.— As the oldest cultivated Phyllanthus this 

 possesses a certain degree of historical interest, but it is not particularly 

 bealitiful, and is far surpassed by P. crenatus, P. Ackermanni, and the haud- 

 sodie hybrids that have been mentioned. Its branches are flattened and 

 crenated, bearing long tubular flowers in the style of P. Hookeri, but not so 

 broad at the . mouth ; creamy or greenish white, opening at night, and 

 possessing a peculiar odour. According to the " Hortus Kewensis " the plant 

 was cultivated by Phillip Miller in 1710, and a very good figure was given in 

 Dillenius's " Hortus Blthamensis" in 1732, with a long description of the 

 plant under the name of Cereus Scolopeudrii folio brachiato. It is the Spleen- 

 wort Jeaved Indian Kg of Miller, and is said to have been originally obtained 

 from Brazil. 



P, PHYLLANTHOIDES, Balm (Cactus speciosus, Bonpland). — An extremely 

 beautiful species, and, like P. Ackermanni, one of the most floriferous of the 

 family, continuing in bloom during the greater part of the' summer. With 

 such an important character it is surprising that hybridisers have not 

 employed the species more frequently in crossing with others, but it has no 

 doubt contributed a few to the series of garden forms, and some of those 

 with rose-coloured flowers can be traced to it. In the typical form the stem 

 is flat, the margin crenated, and the centre reddish. The flowers are about 

 2 to 3 inches long and 3 to 4 inches across at the mouth, the petals being 

 ovate or lance-shaped, and coloured rose and white in irregular streaks, very 

 delicate and handsome. As Cactus speciosus it was mentioned by Bonpland,' 

 who, with Humboldt in 1801, found it growing on trunks of trees at Turbaco, 

 south of Carthagena, Plants or seeds were introduced to Europe by those 

 travellers, and the first flowers were produced at Malmaison in May, 1811, 

 plants also flowering about the same time in the Montpelier Botanic Garden. 



Of other Phyllocaotuses which do not need detailed description the 

 following are worthy of mention : — P. oaulorrhizus, which has handsome 

 flowers 6 inches in diameter, the petals white, and the sepals pale green ;, 

 P. Jenkinsoni, a hybrid or seedling variety, with large beautiful and richly 

 coloured flowers of a brilliant crimson-scarlet hue, very free, and a favourite 

 with many growers. Concerning this plant, as also in reference to the 

 adaptability of Phyllocactuses as window plants, Mr. S. Udale, Shirecliffe- 

 Hall Gardens, Sheffield, writes : — " Cacti are associated with my earliest 

 memories, for in a window at home we had a plant of P. Jenkinsoni and one 

 of P. speciosus, each of which has flowered profusely almost every season for 

 the last thirty years ; and as pruning was frequently resorted to, their 

 progeny are now innumerable. The plants were grown in the window during 



